Gerunds vs. infinitives

Presents

Gerunds vs.

Infinitives

Gerunds are formed with INGEg: walking, talking, thinking,

listening

Infinitives are formed with TOEg: to walk, to talk, to think,

to listen

Both gerunds and infinitives can be the subject of a sentence:

-Writing in English is difficult. -To write in English is difficult.

Both gerunds and infinitives can be the object of a verb:

- I like writing in English.  - I like to write in English.

Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition:

- We are talking about writing in English.

How do we know when to use each???

Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed:

- I stopped smoking.(The smoking was real and happened until

I stopped.)

Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future:

- I stopped to smoke.(I was doing something else, and I

stopped; the smoking had not happened yet.)

Verbs followed by infinitive